CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which of the following accurately describes port mirroring?

1. Transmitting data over multiple switches

2. Copying traffic from one or more interfaces

3. Filtering data packets to enhance performance

4. Generating random traffic for testing purposes

The correct answer is: Copying traffic from one or more interfaces

Port mirroring is a technique used in networking to assist with monitoring and analyzing network traffic. The correct answer indicates that port mirroring involves copying traffic from one or more interfaces. This allows a network administrator to capture packets for a specified port and then send those packets to a different port on the switch, where they can be analyzed by a network monitoring tool. This is particularly useful for troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and ensuring security by allowing real-time traffic analysis without affecting the original data flow. This option emphasizes the fundamental function of port mirroring, which is to create a duplicate of the traffic for observation and analysis purposes, ensuring that network admins have visibility into the data traversing the network. Understanding this concept is essential for effectively managing network performance and security.